On FEMA’s figures, Shortsville faces about as much hazard damage per building as the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Shortsville gets a B for hazard risk: lower expected damage per building than 60% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (95%). FEMA’s files show no paid flood insurance claims here.
Graded on FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value (NRI v1.20, December 2025), weighted by where residents live; flood claims are shown, not graded. How hazard risk is graded
What Shortsville faces
Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.
River and rain flooding
Shares are of FEMA’s expected building damage, the measure the grade uses; ranks compare each hazard’s building-damage rate with all 85,154 U.S. census tracts. In FEMA’s terms, river and rain flooding is FEMA’s “Inland Flooding” (rivers and streams overflowing their banks, or rain overwhelming drainage). FEMA defines coastal flooding as high or rising tides and storm surge, so surge damage is counted there. Drought isn’t listed: FEMA counts its losses in crops only.
What’s behind Shortsville’s grade
River and rain flooding is 95% of the building damage FEMA expects in Shortsville, and Shortsville’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 69% of U.S. census tracts.
B lower expected damage per building than 60% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Shortsville’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $326K a year in losses across Shortsville: $291K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Shortsville flood? No paid flood claims on record
FEMA’s records show no paid flood insurance claims in Shortsville. That’s not a promise: most homes don’t carry flood insurance, so small floods go unrecorded.
Shortsville isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Ontario County.2 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Shortsville
Disasters that paid out in Shortsville itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Village of Shortsville), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2003Ice Storm28 households applied for aid$15K aid approved$18K to the Village of Shortsville for repairs
- 1999Snow$2K to the Village of Shortsville for repairs
Ontario County has had 14 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then winter storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees; the 2001 World Trade Center declarations.
Old photos of Shortsville after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Shortsville archive →Shortsville and its neighbors
Shortsville is 2nd of the 2 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manchester | Bless damage than 60% | river and rain flooding | — |
| Shortsville | Bless damage than 60% | river and rain flooding | 0 |
Hazard risk = FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade; the map is shaded by fifths of the same scale. Flood claims = paid federal flood insurance claims on record.
Get ready for what Shortsville faces
A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.
- Turn around at flooded roads: a foot of moving water can carry off a car.
- Flood insurance usually takes 30 days to start, so buy it before the forecast.
- Keep papers and medicines up high, in a grab-and-go bag.
- Look up the address on FEMA’s flood map.
- Ask the seller or landlord whether it has ever flooded, and what flood insurance costs there.
- Get a flood insurance quote early: policies usually start 30 days after you buy.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Shortsville
Is Shortsville at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Shortsville has lower expected damage per building than 60% of U.S. towns: B for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (95%). The figures are for the one census tract the town shares with its neighbors. This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Is Shortsville in a flood zone?
Flood zones are drawn street by street, so the answer depends on the address: look it up on FEMA’s flood map. In Ontario County, 0.7% of all homes carry federal flood insurance.
How much is flood insurance in Shortsville?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Shortsville’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
What was the biggest storm in Shortsville?
By FEMA money that reached Shortsville, Ice Storm (2003): 28 households applied for aid, $15K approved, and $18K to the Village of Shortsville for repairs.
Is Shortsville at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (95%), and Shortsville’s rate for it is higher than 69% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Shortsville.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Shortsville’s residents lived in the 2020 census; OpenFEMA: NFIP redacted claims, multiple-loss properties, community status book and residential penetration rates, housing assistance (owners and renters), public assistance funded projects, hazard mitigation properties and disaster declarations. Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. Preparedness tips: Ready.gov. FEMA’s model is an average of expected damage, not a forecast. How hazard risk is graded.